We are constantly on the hunt for unique and contemporary venues with a difference. After all, your chosen venue is essentially the foundation on which to build your entire event – it’s the backbone of your celebrations and one of the most important decisions you’ll make when bringing your event to life.
Whether it’s a product launch, Christmas party or private dinner, a great venue should be designed to leave a lasting impact on your guests and create an unforgettable ambience for them to soak up. So when we stepped into the creative hub at Newstead Studios in Brisbane recently, it didn’t take long for this brand-new venue to tick all of the boxes!
Beautiful, architecturally-designed space including a garden terrace and polished concrete floors? Check. Filled with natural light and lush botanicals? Check. Onsite catering and flexible packages to choose from? Yep – it’s safe to say we’ll be seeing some seriously amazing events being brought to life in this boutique event space.
We recently sat down with the lovely Cass, one half of the hubby-and-wife team at Newstead Studios, to chat about the inspiration behind this new venture, the design of the space, and her top tips for those currently on the hunt for the perfect Brisbane venue. Read on for her insight & check out some beautiful imagery of the Studio below!
Tell us a little bit about your inspiration behind Newstead Studios?
Our history with the building goes back 10 years! A family friend owned this raw warehouse space and used it as a gallery for his artwork, and we actually had our engagement party there. A few years later he went to sell it, and we pounced.
We did some basic DIY renos and converted it into a photography studio with some open plan office partitions. This worked nicely for a few years, but we always had a grand plan bubbling away in the background.
Eventually, we engaged a brilliant builder and architect and brought the vision to life – a light-filled creative hub and event space to create, collaborate and entertain. The finished product is beyond our wildest dreams, we’re really proud of it.
Walk us through the design of the space – what can guests expect when they enter the studio?
We’ve watched a lot of jaws drop in the past few weeks! Even our beautiful imagery can’t do the space justice.
Our ground level has an elegant gallery feel, with polished concrete floors, crisp white walls and beautiful photography displayed in Volumes Light Boxes (our other business). This leads to a lush garden terrace with custom made and designer outdoor furniture, ivy creepers and lots of pot plants.
Also on the ground level is our Arch Room, accessed via striking archways at either end. Then there’s our café/onsite caterer, operated by Loaded Food Co. There’s really no need to leave the building once you arrive…it has everything!
Upstairs is my husband Sam’s ‘piece de resistance’ – the photography studio. With retractable skylights, 6m high ceilings with exposed beams and a New York loft-style feature window… I have to say it’s one of my favourite spaces too.
What kind of events are best suited for your venue?
The beauty of Newstead Studios is the unique configuration of spaces, opening it up to a range of event opportunities. The gallery space and terrace is perfect for cocktail events for 100+, while the adjoining Arch Room can be used separately for more intimate events and private dining, or in conjunction with the gallery. Exhibitions work beautifully too, with dimmable track lights and 40 lineal metres of white wall hanging space.
The upstairs photography studio provides a striking space and the ideal blank canvas for larger stand-up events, or seminar style seated events, with ample room for staging, furniture, props etc.
Workshops, Christmas parties, corporate functions, launches, fashion parades, special occasions, big shin-digs, little get-togethers…it can all work.
What gap does Newstead Studios fill in the Brisbane venue market?
It is simple but elegant, there’s intimate spaces and open spaces, and we have put a real emphasis on beautiful design.
Plus we have an onsite caterer who can tailor food and beverage packages to suit each event, so you can really just turn up, eat, drink and be merry.
What would be your number one tip for people on the hunt for the perfect venue?
Don’t be afraid of a blank canvas space. This is where you can really have fun with styling and décor. A beautiful lounge setting or some elegant dry bars might be all it takes to inject your own personality and style.
Also, visit it in person and get a good feel for the space! While websites and package information might be a good starting point, talk to the venue operator about your event and how you can make it unique. That’s our favourite part.
To get in touch with the Newstead Studios team, head over to their website to chat through your event and arrange a viewing of this incredible Brisbane venue for yourself. And trust us – it’s even more beautiful in real life.
A huge thanks to Cass for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at Brisbane’s newest boutique event space. We’re looking forward to seeing some serious magic being created within these walls!
Ps: Looking for a way to celebrate the 2017 Melbourne Cup? Newstead Studios is hosting an intimate event to kick off their brand new space. Check out all the details right here.
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